Solano Avenue Is Paradise for Consumers

From one end to another, Solano Avenue is an alluring destination for shopping, dining, and hanging out.

By Katie Cornell

Published: November 28, 2015

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SHOP

When it comes to clothes, Solano is chockablock with women’s boutiques and upscale consignment shops. Combine both at Urbanity, where a team of women create a carefully curated selection of secondhand designer threads, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. 1887 Solano Ave., 510-524-7467, www.ShopUrbanity.com.

Photo by Pat Mazzera

Shoes on Solano.

A Solano spree wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Shoes On Solano, one of the Bay Area’s best-appointed shoe shops. 1774 Solano Ave., 510-525-3832, www.ShoesOnSolano.com.

In the age of Instagram and Facebook memes, is it so wrong to skip the shared post and instead go out and buy a “Cats for Peace” T-shirt? The answer is no, and you can find something like it, and other fun gifts, at Greetings. It’s an old-school gift shop: greeting cards, goofy key chains, and knickknacks when you want to get a chuckle out of someone. 1841 Solano Ave., 510-526-6983.

PLAY

For more of the wonderfully weird, the Bone Room is covered in the skeletal remains of mammals, reptiles, and, yes, even humans. Go in to explore these “curiosities for sale,” but if buying a taxidermy bird or octopus tentacles isn’t for you, be sure to keep an eye out for ongoing lectures, classes, art exhibits, and more events focused on science and natural history in the store’s adjoining gallery space. 1573 Solano Ave., 510-526-5252, www.BoneRoom.com.

Photo by Pat Mazzera

The Bone Room.

For wine lovers who want to get serious about what they are drinking, Solano Cellars offers a slew of introductory and intermediate classes (wine included, of course) that covers the basics such as how to pair foods and read labels. Check ahead: Classes have limited availability and fill up fast. 1580 Solano Ave., 510-525-9463, www.SolanoCellars.com.